Invincible Soul Emperor

Chapter 289: Chapter 289: A Narrow Defeat

Just as Ye Qingchen was pondering how to end the battle quickly, a scream came from behind him. The referee at the edge of the arena then announced that Pavilion Master Zhang had been disqualified from the match.

It turned out that while Elder Wuji was entangled with the Yuhua Sect’s Martial Spirit Realm Seventh Layer expert, Pavilion Master Zhang saw an opening and tried to seize the opportunity to attack their opponent. However, Pavilion Master Zhang, who had little combat experience, failed to see that this was a deliberate feint.

Elder Wuji shouted a warning, but it was too late. The moment Pavilion Master Zhang got close, the Martial Spirit Realm Seventh Layer expert instantly pivoted, appearing behind him and striking him with a heavy palm.

Immediately after, Pavilion Master Zhang’s body flew toward another Yuhua Sect expert.

Li Qingfeng was already struggling to hold off two opponents by himself. He cursed inwardly when he saw Pavilion Master Zhang flying toward him, but there was nothing he could do.

The other Martial Spirit Realm Eighth Layer expert launched a full-power attack to block Li Qingfeng’s rescue attempt, while his partner snatched the token from Pavilion Master Zhang’s chest with lightning speed.

Immediately, the referee announced Pavilion Master Zhang’s disqualification.

Now, the Yuhua Sect held six tokens while the Qingyun Sect had only four. If this dragged on until the time ran out, the Qingyun Sect would be defeated.

Ye Qingchen grew even more anxious. Only by swiftly defeating his opponent could he bring the situation back to a stalemate. Then, by defeating one more person, the Qingyun Sect could claim victory.

With this in mind, Ye Qingchen immediately unleashed his Leaf Blade Storm, completely enveloping the Martial Spirit Realm Ninth Layer expert.

However, Leaf Blade Storm was a Wood Attribute Martial Technique. His opponent’s Phoenix was the natural nemesis of the Wood Attribute, greatly diminishing the power of the otherwise invincible Earth Rank Martial Technique.

The opponent was now keenly aware of Ye Qingchen’s strength. With victory already in their grasp, there was no need to fight him directly. All he had to do was stall until time ran out.

Therefore, the Martial Spirit Realm Ninth Layer expert cast aside all pride, broke free from the Leaf Blade Storm, and immediately chose to flee.

”Despicable!”

From the referees’ seats, Xiao Xiao watched the Yuhua Sect with contempt and cursed.

Ling Xiaoyu simply smiled and said, ”The team competition tests not only a sect’s overall strength but also its tactical capabilities. The Yuhua Sect’s methods may not be honorable, but they are undeniably an effective strategy.”

Xiao Xiao snorted coldly, but she was helpless. The Yuhua Sect’s actions didn’t violate any rules.

The Martial Spirit Realm Ninth Layer expert kept evading, making it difficult for Ye Qingchen to land a successful blow.

Meanwhile, Li Qingfeng, who was fighting two powerful experts alone, was starting to tire and slowly losing ground.

Hei Ze was also barely holding on. Although he was also at the Ninth Layer of the Martial Spirit Realm, his opponent’s Martial Soul was very unique and seemed to be suppressing his own.

Ye Qingchen watched the battle, understanding that if this continued, the Qingyun Sect would undoubtedly lose.

He gave up chasing the fleeing expert and decided to join his allies’ battles. However, as soon as Ye Qingchen stopped his pursuit, the expert would turn back to re-engage and harass him.

The members of the Yuhua Sect, clearly well-coordinated from long-term practice, finally decided to group together and form a defensive formation.

Their goal was simply to drag things out until time ran out.

Seeing the time dwindle, Ye Qingchen grew even more frantic. He drew his Qingfeng Sword and used the swordsmanship he had comprehended within the Spiritual Energy Wind Blades, relentlessly slashing at his opponents.

Ye Qingchen had named this technique the Wind Blade Sword Technique, and it had already reached the mid-tier of the Earth Rank.

But the Defensive Array formed by the five opponents working together was not so easily broken.

In the end, Ye Qingchen had to focus his power on the weakest link among them—the Martial Spirit Realm Seventh Layer expert—while Li Qingfeng and the other two constantly attacked and harassed from the sides.

The Yuhua Sect obviously understood their plan and kept the Seventh Layer expert shielded in their center, preventing any attacks from reaching him.

Watching the last moments tick away, Ye Qingchen clenched his jaw and unleashed one hundred and twenty percent of his battle power, cleaving heavily toward the five Yuhua Sect members.

BANG!

The five-man formation finally failed to withstand the continuous assault from Ye Qingchen and his allies. The Martial Spirit Realm Seventh Layer expert, who had been protected in the middle, collapsed with severe injuries from the final blow.

Ye Qingchen quickly executed his Mystifying Steps to snatch the man’s token but was firmly blocked by the remaining four.

At that very moment—

”Time’s up!”

With the referee’s announcement, the match officially ended.

Despite his best efforts, Ye Qingchen had failed to seize the opponent’s token. Ultimately, the Qingyun Sect lost the match with a score of four to six.

In the end, the Qingyun Sect’s rank in the team competition stopped at eleventh place.

”Despicable! Does a sect like that even deserve to be promoted to a two-star sect?”

Hearing the announcement, Xiao Xiao slammed the table and stood up, fuming.

Ling Xiaoyu simply smiled without speaking. Xiao Xiao glanced at him and demanded, ”What do you mean by that, Brother Xiaoyu? So what if the Qingyun Sect only got eleventh place in the team competition? The individual competition hasn’t even started yet. I believe the Young Master will definitely turn the tide!”

Having said her piece, Xiao Xiao stormed off. Ling Xiaoyu just shook his head with a smile and continued to preside over the next matches.

When the Qingyun Sect left the arena, the watching crowd unexpectedly burst into thunderous applause.

The audience would not forget the sight of that young man fighting against overwhelming odds, nor the memory of his most stunning sword strike.

Although the Qingyun Sect had lost the match, they had won the respect of the vast majority of the spectators.

Pavilion Master Zhang looked at Li Qingfeng and the others with a guilty expression. ”Sect Leader, I’m sorry,” he said. ”It’s all my fault. If it weren’t for me, we wouldn’t have lost!”

Li Qingfeng shook his head. ”Pavilion Master Zhang, don’t blame yourself. Victory and defeat are common aspects of battle. Besides, the individual competition hasn’t happened yet. It’s not yet certain who will have the last laugh!”

Ye Qingchen had also been deeply disheartened, but hearing Li Qingfeng’s words, he nodded firmly.

That’s right. As long as I achieve good results in the individual competition, the Qingyun Sect still has a hope of advancing.

The gloom of their loss, however, had sapped Ye Qingchen’s interest in watching the rest of the matches. After bidding farewell to Li Qingfeng, he returned to his room alone.

Rather than complain and blame others, it would be better to improve my own strength. That is the correct path.

Upon entering his room, Ye Qingchen began a new round of cultivation.

As the Sect Leader of the Qingyun Sect, Li Qingfeng stayed until the competitions were over for the day. Only after listening to Ling Xiaoyu announce the rules for the upcoming individual competition did he return to their lodgings and gather everyone. They had only placed eleventh in the team competition. To make it into the top ten in the overall results, they would have to give their all in the individual competition. Only by placing in the top ten would the sect have any hope of being promoted to a two-star sect.